Instructor Spotlight: Melissa McDonald | Seneca Creek Community Church ESOL Program

November 12, 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what has inspired you to be a teacher?

I am the proud mom of four young adult children (19-27) and am grateful to have two talkative cats and two adorable little dogs to keep me company now that my kids have soared from the nest.  I am an elementary school library media specialist in Montgomery County Public schools. I am a lifelong learner and I believe that the library is a place for readers to imagine, explore, create, and soar! I serve at my church in various areas, which is very important to me.  I also serve on the planning committee of the Gaithersburg Book Festival, and on the Board of Trustees for the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County.  I believe it is extremely important to serve my community, and to give of my time and talents to others. I love helping others, and teaching English to my adult learners is so very rewarding.


What are the biggest challenges you face as an ESOL teacher?

I teach at my church’s ESOL program at Seneca Creek Community Church.  We believe that the work we do with learners is a ministry to our community. The biggest challenge I face as an ESOL teacher is that I cannot do more for my adult learners. Currently, I teach Intermediate II, so my learners have a good understanding of the English language, but they sometimes get discouraged. They are so supportive of each other and encourage each other when they stumble. I remind my adult learners that English is a difficult language to learn and most of them are not immersed in it on a daily basis.  I remind them to not give up, even if, and when, things are challenging.  Effort, motivation, and persistence are so important for achieving their goals.  I am very proud of the time that my adult learners put into their own education, and I hope that I am helping them achieve their goals.


What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you?

I am an MCPS elementary school librarian, and a saying we have in our school library media program is to be “brave before perfect", which also applies to teaching remotely. At the beginning, when our ESOL program first switched to remote learning, things weren't perfect, but we had a dedicated team of volunteers at Seneca Creek Community Church willing to step out in faith. The pandemic taught me that thinking outside the box was not only important, but essential, and  that my adult learners were up to the challenge.   Offering our classes virtually has helped some of my learners attend when they wouldn’t have been able to in person.  For example, if their child was sick, or if they were out of town, they could still attend class. I have one learner who attended class while she made her deliveries for work, and others as they traveled with their family.  I even taught my class one Saturday morning from my hotel room when I was out-of-town.


What advice would you give to a new ESOL teacher or volunteer?

My advice is to be open and welcoming and to build relationships with your learners. Provide lots of opportunities for your learners to speak with each other.  I start each class with a fun discussion question and encourage each of them to answer and respond to each other in a casual, conversational way.  For example, I might ask, “What is your favorite season, and why?” Or “Would you rather play basketball or soccer, and why?” It helps them find commonalities with each other (and me), and often brings on joyful laughter as we share our stories.  In my experience, adult learners appreciate everything you do, and don’t expect you to be perfect. We learn best from our mistakes. I often use my imperfections as a learning tool - I have been speaking and writing in English for 55 years, and I don’t always get it right!


What have been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19?

I love to read and write.  I read a lot of children’s books for my job, but I also love to read them - especially picture books.  I also enjoy reading historical fiction, mysteries, and romance novels. I write poetry and I have been writing children’s stories that I hope will get published some day!  I walk a lot with my dogs, and really enjoy getting out in nature.  Light hiking around the lake at Seneca Creek State Park or a bit more advanced hiking at Sugarloaf Mountain is so invigorating, and good for my soul.  I also started indoor rock climbing with two of my kids. They are so encouraging, and it really empowers me when I can reach the top of a 40-50 foot wall!


What do you find most rewarding about your work?

The most rewarding part of teaching is when I see a learner’s proud smile when they succeed in mastering a tricky pronunciation or grammatical rule. I also love to see my learners help each other, and to listen as they share in their successes when they have been able to accomplish something because their English has improved.


What is something you learned about your students during this remote teaching period?

I have learned that my adult learners have overcome many challenges and are determined to continue improving their lives for themselves and their families. We pray for each other during challenges and are encouraging of each other’s successes. We have a WhatsApp group so that we can reach each other throughout the week. I tell them often that they are my heroes.

Alina Ramirez Joyner Joins MCAEL’s Board of Directors

By Kayla O'Neil • July 11, 2025
MCAEL is excited to welcome Alina Ramirez Joyner to the Board of Directors. Alina brings extensive experience as a consultant, advising senior leaders in government, private industry, and nonprofits on corporate social responsibility, community investment, and multicultural engagement strategies in both Mexico and the United States. She serves as Chair of Community and Inclusion in an educational setting, as a financial stewardship advisor, and as a civic community engagement coordinator in Bethesda, MD, where she leads initiatives to foster connection, transparency, and financial sustainability within local communities. Her professional path has included work with domestic and international organizations such as the Embassy of Mexico, the Washington, DC Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, CBS Radio, the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, Mexico’s Electoral Institute, and various civic and local organizations. She's also collaborated with clients like National Geographic and leading healthcare systems including MedStar Health, Inova, and Adventist HealthCare. “As an immigrant myself, I understand both the challenges and the possibilities of navigating new systems—a perspective that fuels my dedication to advancing language access, inclusion, and fairness as essential tools for community growth and individual success,” said Alina, who is originally from Mexico City. “I integrate global strategy, risk management, and sustainable operations to design systemic solutions that empower individuals and strengthen communities, minimizing resource inefficiencies and accelerating social progress. “Joining MCAEL’s Board is an exciting opportunity for me to help harness the transformative power of language to build connections, create a sense of belonging, and open doors for individuals and communities alike. I’m inspired by MCAEL’s mission and look forward to applying my experience in community engagement, fundraising, and cross-sector collaboration to help strengthen and sustain the organization’s impact.” Outside of work, Alina loves exploring art, history, and the outdoors, especially hiking with her family and their dog.

Executive Director's Spotlight: A Message to All Our English Learners

By Gerard Etienne • July 8, 2025
Something important struck me during our recent end-of-year convening of program instructors and administrators. It was a day of celebration, sharing, connecting, brainstorming, and problem-solving – all centered on two fundamental questions: How can we serve our learners better? And how can we improve? The passion and dedication in that room were palpable. What struck me was how deeply everyone cares about this work: it matters to them. It matters to all of us. But as the day progressed, I realized something: many of the English learners in the programs we support may not know just how many people are cheering them on. They may not see the full village behind them – rooting for their success. Everyone in the picture above is part of that village – and they’re only a small fraction of it. Across Montgomery County, program administrators, instructors, volunteers, elected officials, and organizations involved in ESOL instruction are all working toward the same goal: helping our learners achieve the English proficiency they need to improve their financial stability, thrive in their communities, and feel a genuine sense of belonging. So, to all our English learners: even though you may never meet any of us, please know that you are not alone. We are rooting for you. We are cheering you on. We want you to succeed. In today’s political climate, that’s a message we must repeat – and amplify.

End-of-Year Celebration Recap

By Kairy Castro Barrios • June 18, 2025
Last Friday, June 13th, 2025, MCAEL hosted its End-of-Year Celebration & Sharing Session, attended by adult English Instructors and program staff representing 24 programs from the MCAEL network. This End-of-Year Celebration was designed to bring ESOL professionals together to celebrate their dedication and commitment to helping a community of non-native English speakers learn English as a second language, thereby supporting them in their daily lives. Their passion for teaching English as a second language contributed to everyone's eagerness to share the ways their lessons work, teaching methods that engage learners, and identifying the specific instruction skills they'd like to develop. One English instructor mentioned that, towards the end of class, she plays "Hangman" with the learners to help with spelling words; so far, no one has been hanged!  All English instructors and program staff share a common goal: to make a difference in their communities and make a direct impact on those around them. During this celebration, they were asked, “what inspired you to work in the ESOL field?" Instructors mentioned that enabling a community to learn English empowers them to grow and better integrate themselves within society. Brenda Voit, an ESOL instructor at the nonprofit Identity, mentioned that she is an English instructor who fulfills community needs and is passionate about the work she does. Christine Patton; an ESOL teacher at JSSA, spoke about her family’s personal experience emigrating from Germany to the United States and the shared frustrations of not knowing English, as well as navigating that experience in their daily lives. Christine views Montgomery County’s ability to provide free and accessible English classes as a reassuring sign of support. This invaluable resource can make a difference in the lives of many, creating a vibrant, growing coalition of Adult English learners. Kairy Castro Barrios MCAEL Intern